Reff
English
Etymology
Borrowed from German Reff (“wooden frame”), a metonymic occupational surname for a carrier or peddler.
Proper noun
Reff (plural Reffs)
- A surname from German.
Statistics
- According to the 2010 United States Census, Reff is the 34465th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 657 individuals. Reff is most common among White (85.54%) individuals.
Further reading
- Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Reff”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.
Anagrams
- RFFE
German
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /rɛf/, [ʁɛf]
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Low German Reff, from Middle Low German ref. Cognate with Dutch reef, English reef, Danish rev. Further origin uncertain. The West Germanic forms are possibly borrowed from Old Norse rif. If so, the word may identical to that for “rib” (Proto-Germanic *ribją), from which is also German Riff (“reef, bank of rocks”); or it may be a derivation from Old Norse ríva (“to tear”), from Proto-Germanic *rīfaną.
Noun
Reff n (strong, genitive Reffes or Reffs, plural Reffe)
- (nautical) reef (part of a sail that can be rolled in during high wind)
Declension
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | das | Reff | die | Reffe |
| genitive | eines | des | Reffes, Reffs | der | Reffe |
| dative | einem | dem | Reff, Reffe1 | den | Reffen |
| accusative | ein | das | Reff | die | Reffe |
1Now uncommon, see notes.
Derived terms
- reffen
Related terms
- Riff, Rippe (perhaps)
References
- Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; van der Sijs, Nicoline (2003–2009), “reven”, in Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands (in Dutch), Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press
Etymology 2
From Middle High German ref, from Old High German href. Cognate with Old Norse hrip and perhaps with Latin corbis, whence German Korb. Compare also Lithuanian krepšỹs.
Noun
Reff n (strong, genitive Reffes or Reffs, plural Reffe)
- (regional) a wooden frame used to carry someone or something on the back
- Synonym: Rückentrage
Declension
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | das | Reff | die | Reffe |
| genitive | eines | des | Reffes, Reffs | der | Reffe |
| dative | einem | dem | Reff, Reffe1 | den | Reffen |
| accusative | ein | das | Reff | die | Reffe |
1Now uncommon, see notes.
References
- Friedrich Kluge (1883), “Reff”, in , John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891